NHS chief ’s warning over Love Island ads

ADVERTS during Love Island and social media websites are putting “pressure” on young people over their body image, the head of the NHS has warned.

Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, raised concerns that cosmetic surgery adverts are being broadcast during breaks on the popular ITV2 show, in which young contestants compete to win one another’s affections. He also said that Facebook and other social media websites were “in danger of ending up on the wrong side of history” by failing to protect young people.

On the BBC’S The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Stevens said it was not just the NHS’S job to tackle eating disorders and mental illness in young people, but social media sites and television shows should also take responsibility.

“Look at the adverts being shown alongside Love Island,” Mr Stevens said. “You’ve got explicit ads being aimed at young women around breast cosmetic surgery. That is all playing into a set of pressures around body image that are showing up.”

A number of Love Island’s contestants have had extensive plastic surgery, and critics have said it is creating “unrealistic” standards for young people.

Mr Stevens said: “The time has come to think long and hard as to whether we should be exposing young people to those kind of pressures, and social media and advertising have got to look very carefully at the kind of impact they are having.

“We are seeing on TV at the moment Facebook ads describing how they are seeking to become more responsible. So I think they are beginning to recognise they are in danger of ending up on the wrong side of history.”